Filling valve



Dec'. 24, 1946. c. D. RUSSELL 2,413,194

FILLING VALVE Filed Aug. 7, 1944 2 sheets-sheet i v. MZRIHCZQQL.

3v my Dec. 24, 1946. A C, D, RUSSELL 2,413,194

FILLING VALVE Filed Aug. 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheel 2 Patented Dec. 24,1946v FILLING VALVE Clyde D. Russell, Oakland, Calif., assignor'toCalifornia Packing Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation ofNew York Application August 7, 1944, Serial No. 548,410

8 Claims.

This invention relates to filling valves, that is, to means for adding apredetermined quantity of liquid to cans or bottles partially lilledwith lish, fruits or vegetables, or other foods which require a set orfixed quantity of liquid. Among the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a filling valve of this character wherein the contentsof the can is vacuumized prior to introduction of the liquid so that asubstantial portion of the objectionable air content is removed.

Second, to provide a filling valve of this character wherein the liquidis added to the contents of the can while the vacuum therein ismaintained, so that the liquid thoroughly and completely permeates thecontents.

Third, to provide a iilling valve o this character which may be readilyand accurately adjusted to deliver various quantities of liquid to meetthe needs for various sizes of bottles and cans, or the various foodscontained therein.

With the above and other objects in view, reference is directed to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are similar longitudinal sectional views through thefilling valve, showing in Fig. 1 the initial position wherein the can tobe filled has not as yet engaged the valve; showing in Fig. 2 theintermediate position wherein the can is being vacuumized; and showingin Fig. 3 the final position wherein the charge of liquid is introduced.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view from 4--4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Shown fragmentarily in the drawings is a table I adapted to rotate abouta vertical axis. The periphery of the table is provided with a verticalwall 2 so as to form therewith a vessel or container for the liquid suchas oil, or fruit or vegetable juices which it is desired to place in thecans of food. A series of plunger barrels 3 is secured'to the table Iadjacent the wall 2. The table is provided with extensions 4 which areconcentric with the plunger barrels 3. Mounted at the top of eachplunger barrel is a sleeve 5 which is provided with a flange 6 at itslower end to form a closure for the plunger barrel. A bleeder port 'l isprovided in the flange 6.

A hollow plunger 8 is mounted within the plunger barrel 3. The plunger 8is closed at its lower end by a partition, and its upper end is through2 provided with a cap in which is provided a bleeder port I8. A stem I Iextends upwardly from the cap 9 through the sleeve 5, and its upper endis provided with a spider wheel I2. The spider wheel is provided withseverall radiating arms I3. i

Suitably positioned at one side of 'the table I is a bracket I4 having alaterally extending trip arm I5 positioned so as to engage the spiderwheel l2 and rotate it through a predetermined arc, in this case, a arc.

The hollow plunger 8 is provided near its lower end with a pair ofdiametrically disposed ports IS which register alternately with a portl1 provided in the plunger barrel 3.

A partition disc I8 is provided in the plunger 8 and forms a false topfor the compartment dened by the hollow plunger. The partition disc i8is equipped with a threaded stem I9 which extends upwardly through thestem I I, and is screw-threaded therein so that the partition disc I8within the plunger 8 may be raised or lowered. A small bleeder passageis provided in the threaded stem I5. A lock nut 28 is provided on theprojecting end of the stem I9 so that it may be locked in position. Thepartition disc I8 determines the effective volume of the plunger 8, thatis,the

partition disc I8 denes with the closed lower end of the plunger 8, achamber of predetermined volume.

Secured to the under side of the table I in concentric relation witheach plunger barrel 3 and extension 4 is a vacuum valve cage 2| in theform of a short cylinder of substantially larger diameter than theextension 4. The vacuum valve cage 2| reciproca-Hy supports a vacuumvalve 22 which is held against rotation relative to the cage 2l by keymeans 23. The vacuum valve is in the form of a disc with a iiangedperiphery riding in the cage 2 I, and is provided withl a central'plunger 24 equal in diameter lto the hollow plunger t. The plunger 24projects into the extension 4 and is attached to the lower end of thehollow plunger 8 by means of a bolt 25. The plunger 24 is hollow, openat its lower end and closed at its upper end. Ports 26 and 2l areprovided in the confronting ends of the hollow plunger 8 and the plunger24, respectively. The ports 26 and 21 are closed when either of theports i6 are in registry or in vertical alignment with the port I'I inthe plunger barrel 3, and the' ports and 27 are adapted to register whenthe ports IE are in right-angular relation with the port Il. i

Springs 28 urge the vacuum valve '22 and consequently, the plungers 24and 8 toward their lower position, which position is the one in whichthe ports i and |1 occupy a common plane.

The lower end of the plunger 24 is provided with an annular lip 29 whichdefines the radially inner wall of a channel S formed in the under sideof the vacuum valve 22. The channel 3G' communicates through a vacuumport 3| to the periphery of the vacuum valve 22. The vacuum Valve cage2| is provided with a vacuum passage 32 terminating in a port 33 solocated in the side wall of the valve cage 2| that when the vacuum valveis in its intermediate position shown in Fig. 2, the ports 3| and 33register. The vacuum passage 32 communicates vwith a rotating annularvacuum shoe 34 which rides in an annular channel provided in the table Astationary vacuum ring 35 rides in the vacuum shoe 34. Ports are soprovided in the shoe 34 and ring 35 that the channel 33 is incommunication with a source of vacuum pressure during a predeterminedportion of the cycle of operation of the lling valve, as will bedescribed hereinafter.

The bottom end of the vacuum valve 22 is provided with a sealing ring 36formed of rubber or analogous material capable of forming a sealingcontact with the upper edge or rim'of a can C, or bottle or othercontainer of food. The can or the like is carried on a platform 31. Astem 38 extends downwardly from the platform 31 and is equipped with aroller V39 which rides on an annular cam 49 having lower intermediateand upper steps 4|, 42 and 43, respectively.

Operation of the filling apparatus is as follows:

The cans to be lled are fed from a suitable conveyor and transfermechanism not shown, to a series of platforms 31 which are maintainedunder and in concentric registry with the vacuum valve 22 by means notshown. Initially, during movement of the platform on the lower step 4|of the cam, the can C clears the vacuum valve and the vacuum valve is inits lower position. This is the condition shown in Fig. 1. When theports are in this lower position, one of the ports I5 is in .reg-

istry with the port l1 so that liquid from the tank or vessel formed bythe table I and wall 2, may flow into the measuring or meteringcompartment within the hollow plunger 8, filling the spacevbetween thelower end of the plunger 8 and the partition disc I8. In the conditionshown in Fig. 1, the ports 25 and '21 are out of registry as are alsothe vacuum ports 3i and 33. When the platform 31 rides upon theintermediate step of the cam 30, the vacuum ports 3| and 32 register asshown in Fig. 2. During at least a portion of the time f that theplatform rides on the intermediate step of the cam, the vacuum passage33 is in communication with the source of vacuum pressure so that thecontents of the can are subjected to such vacuum pressure and air isvwithdrawn from the can and its contents. The ports 26 and 21 remain outof registry during this vacuumizing operation.

When the platform 31 rides upon the upper step 43 of the cam 40, thevacuum ports 3| and 33 no longer register, and preferably the vacuumpassage 32 is cut oi from the source of vacuum pressure. During the timethat the platform 31 rides upon the upper step 43 of the cam, the spiderwheel |2 engages the trip arm l5 to rotate the hollow plunger 8 relativeto the lower plunger' 24, bringing the ports 25 and 21 into registry.The vacuum created in the can and its contents, is maintained by reasonof the fact that the port 3| is closed; consequently, the liquid isdrawn from the hollow plunger 8 not only by gravity, but by the vacuumpressure existing in the can and its contents.

After the liquid has discharged from the hollow plunger 8, the spiderwheel may engage a second trip arm not shown, but similar to the triparm l5 which rotates the upper plunger to its initial position in whichthe ports 25 and 21 are out of registry, but one of the ports i6 is inat least vertical alignment with the port l1. The remaining portion, notshown, of the cam 40 returns to its initial or lower step. Anintermediate step similar to the step 42 may be provided to again bringthe vacuum ports 3| and 33 into registry. At this portion of the cycleof operation, however, the vacuum passage 32 may be open to the air sothat the vacuum existing above the liquid now contained in the can, maybe released and the can freed from the sealing ring 36.

Many other embodiments of the invention may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A filling apparatus comprising: a tank structure; a vacuumizing meansunder said tank structure, a reciprocable member adapted to eiectsealing engagement lwith a container to be iilled and adapted by itsmovement to eiect communication between the interior of said containerand a source of sub-atmospheric pressure; means dening a cylinderextending upwardly into said tank structure and having a lower open endcommunicating with the interior of said container; a hollow plungermeans in said cylinder, including a lower part fixed to saidreciprocablemember, an upper relatively rotatable part, and valve meansbetween Asaid parts for discharging liquid from said upper part intosaid container; and other valve means between said upper part and theinterior of said tank structure for admitting liquid into said upperpart; said plunger means adapted by reciprocation and relative rotationof said upper and lower parts to control said valve means and therebyadmit liquid into said upper part and thereafter discharge said liquidinto said container sealed to said reciprocable member.

2. A construction as set forth in claim l, wherein the upper part ofsaid hollow plunger means includes a partition element adjustabletherein to vary the eiective volume of said upper part thereby toregulate the` volume cf liquid discharged into said container.

3. A lling apparatus, comprising: a tank structure including meansdening a cylinder open at its lower end; a plunger structurereciprocable in said cylinder, and including a relatively rotatableupper plunger forming a measuring compartment and a lower plungerforming a container covering member adapted to eiect sealing engagementwith a container pressing upwardly thereagainst; reciprocable androtatable valve means controlled by reciprocation and rotation of saidmeasuring compartment relative to said cylinder means and containercovering member to admit liquid from said tank structure into saidmeasuring compartment and to discharge said liquid into a containersealed against said container covering member.

4. A lling apparatus, comprising: a tank structure including meansdefining a cylinder open at its lower end; a plunger structurercciprocable in said cylinder, and including a relatively rotatableupper plunger forming a measuring compartmentA and a lower plungerforming a container covering member adapted to effect sealing engagementwith a container pressing upwardly thereagainst; reciprocable androtatable valve means controlled by reciprocation and rotation of saidmeasuring compartment relative to said cylinder means and said containercovering member to admit liquid from said tank structure into saidmeasuring compartment and to discharge said liquid into a containersealed against said container covering member; a source ofsub-atmospheric pressure, and means controlled by movement of saidplunger structure to expose the interior of said container to saidsub-atmospheric pressure source prior to discharge of said liquidtherein.

5. Alling apparatus, comprising: atank structure including meansdeiining a cylinder open at its lower end; a plunger structurereciprocable in said cylinder, and including a relatively rotatableupper plunger forming a measuring compartment and a lower plungerforming a container covering member adapted to effect sealing engagementwith a container pressing upwardly thereagainst; reciprocable androtatable Valve means controlled by reciprocation and rotation of saidmeasuring compartment relative to said cylinder means and containercovering member to admit liquid from said tank structure into saidmeasuring compartment and to discharge said liquid into a containersealed against said container covering member; a valve device operableby reciprocation of said plunger structure to eX- pose the interior ofsaid container to vacuum pressure, said valve device adapted to beclosed prior to discharge of liquid into said container from saidcompartment.

6. A construction as set forth in claim 3, wherein the upper plungerwhich forms said measuring compartment includes a partition elementadjustable therein to vary the effective volume of said compartmentthereby to regulate the quantity of liquid discharged into saidcontainer.

7. A construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein the upper plungerwhich forms said measuring compartment includes a partition elementadjustable therein to vary the effective volume of said compartmentthereby to regulate the quantity o-f liquid discharged into saidcontainer- 8. A lling apparatus comprising: a sealing member adapted toseal the end of a container to be lled; means defining a measuringcompartment carried on said sealing member; a first valve means betweensaid measuring compartment and said sealing member adapted to dischargethe contents of said compartment into said container; a second valvemeans at the lower end of said measuring compartment for admittingliquid to said measuring compartment; actuating means for each of saidvalve means arranged to operate in sequence whereby liquid is rstadmitted to said compartment and later discharged into said container;and means for subjecting the interior of said container to vacuumpressure prior to opening of said valve means, said first seal meansadapted to maintain the vacuum thereby created in s-aid container untilsaid valve means opens.

CLYDE D. RUSSELL.

